His specialty is providing people

For more than 20 years, Gene Mikolajewski has supplied security guards for stores, construction sites, special events and other needs Â? a steady business despite changes in the economy, he says.

Â?I donÂ?t think itÂ?s that much different,Â? says Mikolajewski, who had been in the police department when he started Mikolajewski and Associates Inc. in 1986. Â?I donÂ?t think it has anything to do with the economy.

Â?My business has been steady throughout. I havenÂ?t noticed a difference,Â? even after 9/11 when security issues became more prominent in general.

His specialty is providing people.

Â?I only do security guards, whether itÂ?s for private businesses, construction sites, special events,Â? Mikolajewski says. Â?Those needs are still there. Ninety percent of mine or more is uniform, not undercover.

Â?ThereÂ?s special events that I do year after year after year,Â? for clubs, organizations, festivals and other institutions.

Other jobs include construction sites and some retail stores.

Â?ThereÂ?s sporadic need as construction gets going,Â? he says. Â?I think it comes and goes. People usually donÂ?t use it unless they sustain a loss. Usually itÂ?s the first thing to get eliminated because they donÂ?t have it in their budget.Â?

Most of his security business for retailers involves 24-hour convenience stores and liquor stores, because many large national retailers choose to use employees for the work.

Â?A lot of them have their own in-house security rather than subcontracting it,Â? he says. Â?Most of the large retailers have their own in-house security.Â?

Mikolajewski has 20 to 30 regular workers and can provide services as needed.

Â?ItÂ?s a mix of hours,Â? he says. Â?IÂ?m mainly in the local area, although I can go throughout the state.Â?

Call Mikolajewski and Associates Inc. at (574) 289-7226 for more information.